A speaker your audience won’t forget.

Traci will inspire your audience to achieve their full potential without sacrificing what matters most

“Get her on your stage; your audience will thank you.”

“As someone who’s attended and organized hundreds of events, I know what I’m looking for in a great presenter. It’s a mix of personality, experience, insight and storytelling that leads to heads nodding, waves of laughter and the deep sighs of realization. It’s rare to find a speaker you don’t worry about accomplishing this. But Traci Barrett is one of those unique individuals who is both engaging and brutally honest in all the best ways. Get her on your stage; your audience will thank you.”

-Carl Smith,
Owner, Bureau of Digital

Watch Traci In Action

I value sharing the lessons I've learned from media giants, entrepreneurial founders, and C-Suite executives.

I enjoy sharing stories from my days of building both HGTV as well as my current company, Navigate the Journey. I have walked in the shoes of a scrappy leader at a fledging start-up as well as an executive at a billion dollar corporate enterprise.

I am particularly drawn to mission-driven leaders who are working to take their careers and lives to the next level. Those who desire to make a positive impact on the world.

“Her passion for this topic was infectious, and our employees left feeling inspired and motivated to create more purposeful experiences in their lives.”

"Traci is an exceptional presenter who delivered an inspiring and thought-provoking session on Why Our Work Matters at our all-firm meeting. Her expertise in finding meaning and purpose in our work was evident from the start, as she engaged our employees with insightful perspectives and actionable strategies.

Throughout the session, Traci demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of meaningful work and its impact on employee engagement, motivation, and overall well-being. Her passion for this topic was infectious, and our employees left feeling inspired and motivated to create more purposeful experiences in their lives.

Traci brought a high level of professionalism, enthusiasm, and authenticity to her presentation. She tailored her message to meet the needs of our employees, and her delivery was both engaging and impactful.

I highly recommend Traci to any organization seeking a dynamic and knowledgeable speaker who can inspire their team to find greater meaning in their work. It was a pleasure to have her present to our employees.”

- Jennifer Sides, PHR
Chief People Officer, Anders CPAs

signature keynotes

Traci teaches audiences how to find purpose and joy in their work so that their impact is positive and powerful. Below are her most-requested keynotes, each enhanced with captivating stories, research, and applicable takeaways to best resonate with specific audiences.

Healthy AmBITION

HOW LEADERS ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL WITHOUT SACRIFICING WHAT MATTERS MOST

NEXT-LEVEL LEADERSHIP

REDEFINING AMBITION FOR THE MODERN LEADER

RUN YOUR BUSINESS, OWN YOUR LIFE

FORGING A POSITIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL IMPACT

FREEDOM TO SCALE

HEALTHY AMBITION FOR ENTREPRENEURS WHO WANT MORE, ON THEIR TERMS

  • “Traci is a powerhouse of a human being and her approach, content, and delivery style are unmatched. If you are looking for someone to help transform the thinking of your audience, she is the speaker for you! Be prepared for a whole new way of thinking about work and life and how they are connected at the most basic level. To create a life you love is to also do work you love. Highly recommend Traci!“

    AJ Vaden, CEO & Co-Founder Brand Builders Group

  • "Traci CRUSHED IT when she spoke to our community of Pinnacle Business Guides! Our community has seen a lot of speakers, and few can hold the stage the way Traci did. Her humor, energy and spot on content had everyone hanging on each word and taking pictures of her slides as they did not want to miss a concept. If you are looking for a speaker that does the research and comes ready to connect with your audience, then you are ready for Traci. We all left with a determination to live a more intentional life with a greater meaning."

    -Gregory Cleary Author of Path to the Pinnacle, and Co-Founder of Pinnacle Business Guides

  • “Traci presented an effortlessly engaging keynote at the 2024 PMI Nashville Symposium. Her 'Make Your Work Matter' message inspired all of us to uncover the deeper meaning in our work, irrespective of our roles. Participants left feeling energized, and people are still raving about her presentation. If you want a keynote that is both inspiring and actionable, Traci is an absolute must-have. I highly recommend her!”

    -Nancy C Everitt, PMP , President Elect Nashville PMI Chapter

  • “Through various local, regional, and global roles in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, I have worked with many speakers and Traci exemplifies professionalism in every aspect. She was prepared, on time, present in the moment. She was an exceptional speaker on stage, communicating clearly with right amount of energy and relatability. Traci has great stories taken from her days at HGTV, her work with key clients and businesses, and her own life journey. She not only encourages professional growth but personal growth as well. Traci far exceeded our expectations.”

    -Tom McManus, Learning Chair, Entrepreneurs Organization

  • “Traci’s book and facilitation helps you see that you can speak life into the future you truly desire and want so bad to give yourself permission to live out. Having the author of the book come to speak to our group is a special treat and it was just that to have her in the room to share her life’s stories and lessons in person. The session was beautifully interactive just like a book club of old friends with Traci creating a space for the business owners in the room to share their experiences, their dreams, and desires to apply the tools Traci introduced.“

    -Sonia Petkewich, Mastermind Community Leader, Catalyst Mastermind Collaborative

  • "Traci is one of the best speakers I’ve had the privilege to hear in a long time. We recently invited Traci to be our Keynote speaker at our All Area President meeting. She is incredibly thoughtful, motivating and helped us all remember why we do what we do. I can’t recommend Traci enough and regularly share a copy of her book with friends and colleagues."

    -Brian Ford, Area President, FocusCFO

  • "Traci graciously spoke at National Association of Women Business Owners in Nashville. Traci's stories, quotables, and teaching points brought the room to life ... and the cameras out to take pictures of her slides with powerful illustrations. She was one of the most engaging speakers, especially "off stage" interacting with everyone in the room. Attendees departed with valuable insights they've continued to talk about. Traci was a dream to work with in being flexible, knowledgeable, and prepared. She communicated clearly as we planned for the meeting. Very easy to work with. We highly recommend her!"

    -Sheri Traxler, Membership Committee, NAWBO Nashville

Book Traci for Your Virtual Event 

Traci is proficient in delivering virtual keynotes, webinars, and workshops. She has been certified by eSpeakers as a virtual speaker with years of experience and state-of-the-art equipment to bring a top-quality presentation to your team. Connect your team with powerful content without them needing to leave their desk!

signature keynotes

Keynote One

Healthy Ambition:

How leaders achieve their full potential without sacrificing what matters most

Today’s elite organizations aren’t just asking “What’s next?” They’re asking, “How can we get to what’s next without sacrificing what matters most?” They know that scaling excellence requires more than just effort; it demands a new kind of ambition. Healthy Ambition is the essential framework that teaches leaders how to close the gap between high-functioning and next-level performance, without sacrificing culture, creativity, or well-being.

In this transformative keynote, Traci Schubert Barrett, former HGTV founding executive, best-selling author, and trusted advisor to high-performing teams, educates leaders on the importance of balancing results, relationships, and identity as they navigate the ever-changing world of work and pursue their highest potential without wavering or burning out. Leaders who attend this session will leave with renewed understanding of how to sustainably be their best, and will be better equipped to navigate the uncertainty and change the world will continue to throw their way. 

Your audience will learn:

  • How to align ambition with purpose to unlock sustainable peak performance

  • The three critical leadership levers that drive resilience, connection, and impact

  • Why “good enough” is the enemy of innovation—and how to reignite job joy

  • Pittfalls to avoid when closing the performance gap

  • How to bring their teams along with them in their healthy ambition journey

With a dynamic mix of business strategy and deep emotional intelligence, Traci delivers more than inspiration, she delivers a roadmap for organizations ready to grow with intention and thrive through change.

Let go of the grind. Embrace the impact of Healthy Ambition.

Target Audience: Leaders, Managers, Individual Contributors

Keynote Two

Today’s leaders aren’t just expected to perform, they’re expected to evolve. And fast.

Next-Level Leadership is a keynote designed specifically for high-performing executives who are ready to challenge the ceiling of “good enough” and redefine success through a new lens: healthy, purpose-fueled ambition.

Traci Schubert Barrett, seasoned executive, leadership strategist, and one of the original founders behind HGTV guides elite leaders through a framework that elevates performance without depletion. This keynote isn’t about doing more. It’s about leading better.

In this experience, leaders will:

  • Reframe ambition as a powerful, renewable force that sustains energy and impact

  • Sharpen the three essential dimensions of modern leadership: Identity, Relationships, and Results

  • Learn to scale their leadership in a way that strengthens culture and fuels innovation

Traci’s delivery blends executive savvy with deep insight, helping seasoned leaders reconnect with what drives them and how to drive others forward. It’s a strategic reset for leaders navigating complexity, growth, and people leadership at scale.

This isn’t just a talk. It’s a challenge to evolve, inspire, and lead with impact.

NEXT level leadership:

Redefining Ambition for the Modern Leader

Target Audience: New managers, Middle Managers, Senior Leaders, Director Level, People Leaders

Keynote Three

You’ve built a strong business. You’ve led well. And from the outside, it looks like everything is working.

But deep down, you may be wondering: What will it really take to grow this to the next level and will it cost me more than I’m willing to give?

Freedom to Scale is a keynote designed for high-performing entrepreneurs who are ready to scale with intention not exhaustion. Traci Schubert Barrett, a founding executive at HGTV and strategic advisor to growth-minded leaders, delivers a powerful, practical framework for pursuing more—more impact, more alignment, more success—without sacrificing yourself, your team, or your original vision.

Through her signature Healthy Ambition approach, Traci challenges business owners to release the fear that growth must come at a personal cost and instead embrace a better way forward.

In this keynote, entrepreneurs will gain:

  • A strategic framework to grow the business by evolving the leader behind it

  • The three growth levers that unlock sustainable success: clarity of purpose, aligned relationships, and exceptional results

  • A renewed mindset that shifts from I have to carry it all to we’re built for more

Freedom to Scale reframes scaling not as a burden but as a breakthrough. It’s for leaders who believe in what they’ve built and are bold enough to ask what’s possible when they stop playing small.

Because when you lead with healthy ambition, you don’t lose what makes your business great. You amplify it.

Freedom to scale:

Healthy Ambition for Entrepreneurs Who Want More, On Their Terms

Target Audience: Sales Professionals, Sales Leaders, Senior Leaders, Business Owners, Any Individual Contributor with Sales or Marketing Responsibilities

Keynote Four

In a world where 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years, it's clear that the road to success is fraught with challenges (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Furthermore, a study by Gallup found that 45% of entrepreneurs report being stressed, suggesting a widespread struggle with the hustle culture that dominates our working lives.

We wake up, we hustle, and yet, at the end of the day, there's a nagging feeling that something crucial is missing. It's the meaning in our work, the purpose behind our efforts, and the impact of our contributions that seem to elude us. It's time to change our approach to work.

This program is a beacon for entrepreneurs and business owners drowning in the sea of hustle culture. It's designed to realign your efforts with your core values, helping you find balance and purpose in the relentless pursuit of success. Traci, a seasoned entrepreneur and motivational force, will guide you through the labyrinth of business ownership, addressing the critical issues of burnout, commitment, and the elusive search for meaning in it all. She weaves in stories of HGTV as a start-up, starting her own consulting business, and how coaching business owners for the last decade has helped her craft the key mindsets needed by every entrepreneur.

Run your business, own your life:

Forging A Positive Entrepreneurial Impact 

Key Takeaways:

  • The key mindsets that play a pivotal role in your entrepreneurial journey

  • The power of long-term vision in your business and life

  • The key leadership qualities that foster a culture of growth

  • The personal and professional inventory to subtract unnecessary pursuits

  • How to create a roadmap for their life and business that honors who you are and where you want to go

Target Audience: Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Leaders of Start-ups

“Traci had me on the edge of my seat with how personable she presented.”

"Over the course of this multi-day event, Traci captivated my attention more than any other presenter. As an event professional, I hear hundreds of CEOs, leaders, and professional speakers each year. Traci had me on the edge of my seat with how personable she presented. Traci brought the human element back into the room. Fireside chats, panels, and keynotes are all great, but Traci took the focus off the stage and helped us look inside ourselves."

- Cameron Magee,
Owner, Avad3 Event Production

What Makes Traci Different?

Always Helpful

Traci comes prepared with additional resources that your audience can access after the event. She is also happy to arrange copies of her best-selling book for everyone to enjoy!

Always Captivating

Whether it’s stories from the early days of HGTV, behind the scenes of the television world, the ups and downs of being a leader, or just everyday experiences of her own homelife, Traci always has her audiences laughing, learning, and leaning in.

Always Applicable

Your audience will walk away with ideas, information, and inspiration they can immediately apply both professionally and personally. Traci’s presentations go beyond the entertaining and make a difference in people’s lives.

Always Relatable

Traci has walked in your shoes. She is an entrepreneur, leader, corporate executive, and devoted wife and mother. She knows what it feels like to juggle it all, navigate life’s pivots, and take a leap of faith to pave a new path.

Always Credible

Traci is a speaker you can feel confident putting in front of your audience. With a master’s degree in psychology, over twenty years of corporate business experience, and a decade of running her own company, Traci is a certified executive coach and an emotional intelligence expert you can trust.

Traci's Speaker Kit

Download Traci's speaker kit to discover how her dynamic speaking programs can elevate your next event!

Book Traci for your next event

Traci combines personal experiences, leading-edge research, and professional expertise to inspire audiences to look inward at who they are and then turn outward to make a positive impact on the world around them. She has a high-energy personality that is impressive yet approachable, making her the best choice for your next in-person or virtual event.